Yeah, I think an i5 760 build is going to be out of range whereas a Phenom II X4 build allows for a USB 3.0 m/b on budget as long as I can get a second hand GPU for a good price. I think the GPU is what it all hinges on. I could save a few quid shopping around for deals but I think it will work. Wrong thread I think m8. Anyway, does anyone have the BenQ G2222HDL monitor? How does it fair?
i do got a pair on my desk. They are one of the best TN panels ive seen. only thing is turn off DCR and use standard mode with the sharpness at 4. The presets are awful. low power consumption too 28W. LED backlight makes bleeding none issue too.
Excellent, I think that has just determined the moitor then, especially since it is 1920x1080 for the price of most 1680x1050 monitors - £123! The only thing I think they are missing is an HDMI connection but hey, no matter. Tbh, I did list that monitor after seeing a couple of previous posts from you about it, from which I started looking around.
WTH?! oops loosing track of multiple tabs open /shy still the Raven is a might fine case nevertheless
Definitely agree with getting the 955 rather than the i5 760, if he was overclocking it'd be a different matter though.
Okay, I am looking at a 2nd hand 955 BE for a good price. A quick motherboard question as I have never built an AMD rig: with the Asus M4A87TD/USB3 motherboard, does a cooler such as the Gelid Tranquilo or an Arctic Freezer 7 Pro mount east/west (front/back) or north/south (bottom/top). If it mounts pointing at the roof, I will have to revise my case choice as the Cooler Master in my first post does not have a roof exhaust. Does anyone know?
I'm pretty sure that you can mount any cooler either way, as long as there's room for it. The standard is mounting it front/back pulling air across the RAM so the Gelid should fit fine.
Okay, I've purchased an AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE from the marketplace which gives me a little bit to play with re: the GPU. Now, can any AMD expert tell me if this RAM (http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=53911) is compatible with an Asus M4A87TD/USB3 motherboard? It is a very good price at £49 but the Asus QVL doesn't list that specific RAM part number so is there anyway to tell via the specs?
Cheers for the response mate, I'll just get a few more opinions as I have heard of incompatibilities with AM3 boards (voltage?), I don't want to assume anything. If I can't get a definite answer about that particular RAM then I'll spend more on stuff on the QVL.
Right, trigger pulled on CPU, motherboard, case, HD's, external HD enclosure, DVD/RW, PSU & O/S. Still to sort out RAM, monitor & GPU. How does it look so far? Going by the RAM & monitor prices above, it would leave me with around £100 for the GPU. I'm still looking for a bargain in the marketplace although a 768mb GTX460 might be within reach @ £125. Would a 768mb GTX468 drive a 1920x1080 monitor okay with, say, Civ V on full detail settings?
Only one thing I don't like there bud and that's the PSU otherwise the rest perfect. I think my scratch build for next year is going to be AMD as well and the prices are a joke and I can use more money on the build
Yeah, the PSU debate has been through this thread already. adam_bagpuss (cheers m8) recommended it and after doing a load of reading (of reviews), for a PC that is not going to be overclocked or have the nuts thrashed off of it, it is a good buy. It also has a five year warranty. I just hope the cables are long enough for an Antec 300 as I have already bought both!
Ok cool. AS you know I love the coolermaster cases but the PSU's I have returned two but yes they were a couple of years ago but I'm a stubborn old man when something gives me problems its hard for me to forgive. Got my son the 500watt Ocz and that works perfectly. The PSU you got the cables should be fine. But you have opened my eyes big time with AMD stuff as well as Jeff mentioning AMD all the time and will now definitely give it a go.
Yeah, this build will be doing minimal gaming but I am going to get the best GPU I can get. Given that in the 17 years I have known the guy, this is the first time he has had any money for a PC. This lot will have to last him a while. The AMD path suits him fine, very good value for money. I could of got him a dual core CPU but I got a quad core (for a good price) to give him a semblance of future proofing.
id stretch for the 460 as it be be faster than anything on the second hand market for £100 or less. 1920x1080 should be ok havent tested Civ 5 myself but its not a massively GPU driven game so should be fine.
Just bought a 4GB kit of corsair 1600MHz RAM on Scan's Today Only and it looks like I can get a 5770 from a bit-tech member for a very good price (pending payment atm). All in all it looks like I can get it all well under the £700 budget, just have to wait for the monitor to come into stock @ CCL.
I think a 5770 will be able to handle the limited gaming requirement @ 1920x1080. It is more about the general usage and whilst a GTX460 would be nice, it would take it over budget.
